Dawn Renton

Earlier this year, Status Quo announced that 2016 would see their last full-on electric shows.

Now the band are unveiling the dates. The Last Night Of The Electrics tour will begin in October with a high profile stint across Europe, visiting the UK and heading north of the border for a spectacular send-off – and the band’s only Scottish date – in Glasgow in December. Afterwards, the Telecasters will finally be unplugged and amps turned off.

It’s safe to say that the world of music will not be the same once the dust has settled from the tour.

“We’ve talked about it for some time and have decided that it’s time for us to hang up the electrics,” Francis said. “It’s getting harder and harder for us to play those shows. It’s 30 years since we last said we were stopping but this is a final decision.

“It doesn’t mean we won’t do other things, perhaps the odd special, but we’re agreed that the moment has arrived. There’s more to come from us in the years ahead, but we won’t tour the electric set ever again.”

Since first charting in 1967 the band have become a truly iconic and massively influential rock act. With iconic hits including ‘Whatever You Want’ and ‘Rockin’ All Over The World’ it is estimated that Status Quo have played over 6,000 live shows in their 49 year career, and are known for their high octane, energetic sets.

Life won’t be the same for us or many of the fans

Rick said: “We always thought we’d see a red light when it was time to stop. The show hurts now, physically. It’s hard to maintain that level of energy and without that it’s not really a Quo show. So we don’t feel we should continue. This is definitely the end of our lives on the road with the electric set, life won’t be the same for us – or many of the fans – but we can’t go on at this pace any more.”

The band will be joined on this run of dates by very special guests REO Speedwagon and comedy music trio, The Lounge Kittens.

REO Speedwagon has sold 40 million albums around the globe, with the group’s landmark album, ‘Hi Infidelity’, now approaching ten times platinum status in the states.

After nearly five decades since forming, front man Kevin Cronin and band mates Bruce Hall (bass), Neal Doughty (keyboards), Dave Amato (guitar) and Bryan Hitt (drums) are still electrifying audiences worldwide with concerts featuring their two US number one singles ‘Keep on Loving You’ and ‘Can’t Fight This Feeling’, along with hits including, ‘Take It on the Run’, ‘Time for Me to Fly’, ‘Don’t Let Him Go’, and more.

Kevin said: “I remember hearing ‘Pictures of Matchstick Men’ (the Quo’s first single released in 1968) on underground radio and being totally blown away.

“All our early influences were British rock groups, so we are psyched to be going on tour with Status Quo. I have a feeling both our bands and our fans will find we all have a lot in common and that this tour will be big fun for everyone.”

This tour will truly be the end of an era as Status Quo turn their back on constantly touring their fabled electric live set.

If you love Status Quo, you need to be there; if you’ve never seen them play a full-throttle no-nonsense electric set, you need to be there.